Passive RFID-based Music Player Textile

Abstract

Music has always been an important way of expressing ourselves. Creating music from bodily interaction has gained lots of attention: Various gestures, body touch, movements of hand and foot are used as inputs for creating music. The traditional identification and sensing technology, passive ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, can also be turned into a music player textile for creating music with simple touch or gesture on clothing. When the player touches a specific integrated circuit (IC) copper pad with finger, the unique ID is read by the reader and translated to music via our music software. With this preliminary version of the music player textile, it is possible to play drum and piano. In the future, the technology can be applied to daily clothing for educational musical purposes such as teaching music to kids, as well as professional musical purposes such as performers (showmen and hosts) and lecturers to have playful performances.